HealthLink BC File #40a, January 2011

Hepatitis C Virus Infection

• What is hepatitis C virus infection?
• How are the symptoms?
• How common is hepatitis C virus infection?
• How can you tell if you have hepatitis C virus infection?
• How is hepatitis C virus spread?
• How is hepatitis C virus not spread?
• What should you do if you prick yourself with a dirty needle?
• How do you get treatment?
• If you have hepatitis C, can you be protected against other diseases?

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What is hepatitis C virus infection?

Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).

What are the symptoms?

Most people who have hepatitis C infection feel well, have no symptoms, and do not know they have the disease.

Some people may have a brief illness with symptoms usually appearing 6 to 12 weeks after being infected with the virus.

Symptoms of acute hepatitis C infection may include fever, tiredness, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes), abdominal pain, dark urine, loss of appetite, and nausea.

Others may experience long-term health concerns such as tiredness, lack of energy, or digestive problems.

How common is hepatitis C virus infection?

In Canada, about 1 in every 100 people are infected with the hepatitis C virus.

Many people with hepatitis C infection have not been tested and do not know they have the disease. There are about 2,500 new cases of hepatitis C virus infection identified in B.C. each year.

People at higher risk of having hepatitis C infection include the following:

Many have not been tested and do not know they have the disease. There are about 4,000 new cases of hepatitis C virus infection in Canada each year.

People at higher risk of having hepatitis C infection include:

• People who have used injection drugs or shared drug use equipment.
• People who received a blood transfusion or blood product before May 1992.
• People who received blood-derived coagulation products before July 1988, or intravenous immunoglobulin products prior to 1997.
• People who received an organ or tissue transplant before 1990.

All blood products and donors in Canada are now screened for hepatitis C virus. The risk of infection from a blood transfusion or blood products is now very low, estimated at less than 1 in 500,000 units of blood donated.

There is a risk for hepatitis C virus infection in countries where the blood supply is not tested or where infection can occur through unclean medical equipment.

How can you tell if you have hepatitis C virus infection?

After the hepatitis C virus infects your body, antibodies to the virus appear in your blood and these can be detected by a blood test. A positive antibody test means that you have been infected with the virus at some point in time. Another blood test will then be done to determine if you are still infected with the virus.

About 1 in 4 people infected will naturally clear the virus from their body and recover from the infection. The majority of people infected do not clear the virus and will be chronically infected.

How is the hepatitis C virus spread?

At this time, there is no vaccine to prevent people from getting hepatitis C infection.

Hepatitis C virus infection is usually spread by blood-to-blood contact with infected blood.

Infection can occur through:

• Illicit drug use including sharing drug snorting, smoking or injection equipment such as needles and syringes, straws and pipes;
• Exposure to blood and blood products including receiving a transfusion of blood or a blood product in a country where the blood supply is not tested for hepatitis C. In Canada, this applies to blood and blood products received before 1992;
• An accidental needle poke with a used needle or syringe;
• An infected mother passing it to her newborn infant (risk of about 5 - 6%);
• Sexual intercourse, especially for those who have multiple sexual partners;
• Sharing toothbrushes, dental floss, razors, nail files, or other items which could have tiny amounts of blood on them;
• Skin-piercing events such as tattoos, body piercing, acupuncture or electrolysis, if the equipment is not clean.

There is a very low but real risk of passing on the virus through other body fluids such as saliva, semen, vaginal secretions or breast milk.

How is hepatitis C not spread?

Hepatitis C is not known to be spread by:

• Coughing or sneezing;
• Contact such as hugging and kissing;
• Using the same dishes or cutlery;
• Swimming in a chlorinated pool when you have cuts, scrapes or are menstruating;
• Being bitten or stung by an insect which then bites or stings someone else;
• Contact of healthy intact skin of others by your body fluids such as saliva, urine, feces or vomit.

How do you get treatment?

People who test positive for hepatitis C should see their family doctor regularly and have their blood tested to see how their liver is functioning. They may also be referred to a specialist for further testing and assessment.

Some people with hepatitis C virus infection will be eligible for treatment that may clear the virus from their body. Some people with severe liver damage will require a liver transplant.

What should you do if you prick yourself with a dirty needle?

• If possible, put the wounded area lower than the heart, to promote bleeding.
• Wash the area well with soap and water
• Go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department immediately for care.

If you have hepatitis C, can you be protected against other diseases?

Yes. Vaccines that will protect you from hepatitis A, hepatitis B, pneumococcal disease and influenza are provided free to people infected with hepatitis C. You can get these shots from your local health unit or family doctor.

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